Sanford signs traffic camera bill

Thursday

Jun 17, 2010 at 10:01 AM

COLUMBIA - Gov. Mark Sanford has signed a bill that bans traffic citations for speeding "based solely on photographic evidence."The Republican governor gave his signature to S. 1298 last Friday, leaving Ridgeland Town Council to debate the town's plans to use a camera system to reduce speeding on Interstate 95.The legislation moved ahead with the blessing of Sen. Clementa Pinckney, D-Ridgeland, despite the objections of Ridgeland Mayor Gary Hodges."I now know the bill has been signed and we have a Council meeting Thursday and we'll discuss this matter in executive session," Hodges said Monday. "We're still weighing our options."The new law, amended in May by Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Columbia, says, "traffic citations based on photographic evidence only may be issued during emergencies."Hodges argued that the town needed the camera system to reduce the roadway hazard of frequent speeders through the town.But state lawmakers had insisted the plan was more of a revenue-generating strategy than a public-safety measure, pointing to the fact that a speeder would receive a ticket days after the violation instead of being forced to slow down immediately."I am deeply concerned with the process in Columbia that a state law could be made when most of the General Assembly do not understand what they voted on," Hodges said. "I am disappointed with the representation we have in Columbia which failed to get the facts on this issue and fight for us in Columbia."After the Senate vote this month, Pinckney said he understood local officials' frustration with speeders. But the Ridgeland Democrat his long-standing concerns about privacy and potential damage the area's public image took precedence."I don't want us to be known as the speed-trap capital of I-95," said Pinckney after the June 2 vote. "I don't think someone's photograph or someone's tag information should be captured by a private company," he added. The new law is effective immediately.

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